The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-02-04

called upon to answer II. he said
the first point he should look for was
constitution; good strong bodied
sheep, of form that would be able
to carry a lamb. Second, fleece, or
covering; as that is one of the points
of her value. Her lamb and fleece
constituted her value. Third, milk
ing >qualiIies--abllity to breed and
raise a good lamb.
Mr. ID. p. Dewey thought he should
place her breeding first, as if slN was
not well bred he would not have her
to breed from at all.
Mr.. Hubbard said he had answered
the question from the standpoint of a
wool grower, not that of breeder of
a stud flock.
the third question was, "What do
you consider the three best points in
a stock ram?" Mr.. L. w Barnes
was called upon to answer FIRST, he
should place breeding. If not well
bred he would be worse than useless
as stock ram Second, constitution
Third, he should want two things,
fleece and ,orm. If he had to take
only one point he should take
fleece, as good constitution would
necessarily secure a nearly perfect
| form.
In answer to question as to his
choice between two rams, one perfect
in form but with very poor fleece,
and the other the exact opposite, Mr..
Barnes said he would take neither,
as there were plenty of rams in Mich
igan good In both particulars.
Question-"Is it policy to increase
the size of the Merino at the expense
of its feece2" Mr.. c. Hubbard was
called upon to answer. He said he
would not give away certainty for
an uncertainty. He considered the
fleece an important matter in the
Merino. If he had flock that was
growing a good fleece he rather hold
it than sacrifice it for mutton qualities.
Mr.. Stuart thought the present size
a very desirable one.
Mr. ]. w. Hubbard referred to pa
pers read at tie State Associaton
meeting. They recommended an in
crease of the size. He thought it was
mistake judging from his own ex.
perience.
Mr.. Bailey said he viewed the sub
ject in thus light: He regarded a
sheep as machine for the conversion
of certain products into an article of
money value-wool or mutton-and
that sheep was the best which grew
the largest amount OF wool or mutton
for the food they consumed. For
these reasons he regarded the question
as one of not much Importance, pro
vided the animal produced a good
percentage of wool and mutton for the
food they consumed the most at the
least cost. He had tried all kinds, but
the medium sized sheep did the best
with him
Mr.. G. w. Stuart, Mr.. Sheldon
and others gave their views, the latter
protesting against breeding SO much
grease and wrinkles as was generally
done by breeders.
Mr.. ] Curtis said he remembered
few years ago it was thought good
flock of sheep which produced four
pounds FER head. He had his flock
now so it produce nearly eight pounds
per head Of good clean wool-no
dock ,ge. He had done it with wrink
ly greasy rams, using his judgment
always as to the quality of the rams
he used. He wanted to know now
whether he could advance any further
so far as sbearing qualities was in
volved.
Mr.. Caruss mentioned a flock
that had been graded up until last
year they SHARED on an average over
ten lbs of good we'll washed wool.
Mr.. Dewey said he thought WOOL
growers had lost good deal in the
use of rams which had too much gum
and wrinkles. He spoke of flock in
his vicinity which had been graded
until it averaged IL lbs of wool per
head, which sold last season at 2Sc
per ID.
Question, "What is the most de
sirable color for oil in stock rams for
grade flocks? Mr.. K. Caruss answered
would advocate ram with buff oil.
Rams with white oil never produce
any improvement in the shearing
qualities of flocks, ana generally their
produce were thin on the belly and
poorly covered.
Question, Is it policy to encourage
the washing of sheep? ME-. S. Bur.
net answered. He said that certain
farmers were washing sheep simply
because it pays. Breeders generally
did not encourage washing but under
the present system of selling wool it
would not pay to shear graded flocks
unwashed. He therefore felt it neces-.
sary to wash his sheep as matter of